Review: Detective Aunty
I’ve been devouring Uzma Jalaluddin’s novels since her debut, Ayesha at Last, was published back in 2018. While I love her romances, I was still willing to give her a chance when I learned she’d be publishing Detective Aunty, the first in a new cozy mystery series. There was a lot in the novel that was familiar and wonderful, but overall, I was a little let down by this mystery.
Here’s the book’s description:
After her husband’s unexpected death eighteen months ago, Kausar Khan never thought she’d receive another phone call as heartbreaking—until her thirty-something daughter, Sana, phones to say that she's been arrested for killing the unpopular landlord of her clothing boutique. Determined to help her child, Kausar heads to Toronto for the first time in nearly twenty years.
Returning to the Golden Crescent suburb where she raised her children and where her daughter still lives, Kausar finds that the thriving neighborhood she remembered has changed. The murder of Sana’s landlord is only the latest in a wave of local crimes that have gone unsolved.
And the facts of the case are Sana found the man dead in her shop at a suspiciously early hour, with a dagger from her windowfront display plunged in his chest. And Kausar—a woman with a keen sense of observation and deep wisdom honed by her years—senses there’s more to the story than her daughter is telling.
With the help of some old friends and her plucky teenage granddaughter, Kausar digs into the investigation to uncover the truth. Because who better to pry answers from unwilling suspects than a meddlesome aunty? But even Kausar can’t predict the secrets, lies, and betrayals she finds along the way…
As always, the representation in Jalaluddin’s novel was amazing. It was the absolute best part of the book. I loved getting a peek into Kauser’s family and beliefs, and those of her friends and neighbours as well. And the fact that it was set in Canada? Fantastic.
Buuut…the mystery felt…convoluted? Poorly plotted? I admit that I don't really love amateur detective stories so that was a hard thing for me to get over. Others may feel differently and may enjoy the story more. Everyone dismissed Kauser’s observation skills (except her best friend) and that bothered me. But also, “observation skills” does not a detective make and she could have caused some serious damage to her daughter’s case (which the lawyer did point out). And the fact that a police officer knew she was poking around? And she felt like he owed her something because he grew up in the neighbourhood? It was weird. And the final revelation? I don’t think there were enough connections made for that to land the way it should have.
An aside - if you do read this one, make sure you have a cup of chai with you!
There was a coziness to Detective Aunty that I appreciated but all in all, I don’t think Uzma Jalaluddin’s latest novel did what it should have (which makes me so sad). Will I read the next book in Kauser Khan Investigates? I’m not sure. Time will tell!
*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*